Flower display holder



April 12, 1960 J. D. JOHNNIDES 2,932,384

FLOWER DISPLAY HOLDER Filed April 4, 1957 IN V EN TOR.

JAMES D. JOHN/W055 %4 2W I V 'ATIORNEY ja -r w This invention relates to adevice for packaging merchandise for display and transportation purposes and" more particularly to a flower retaining and display structure. a

Fresh-cut flowers, as well as potted plants present a problem in handling and transportation. Because of the delicate nature of the flowers and leaves, they cannot be delivered in ordinary packages. It is also not practical to place them in closed containers for extended periods of time since this causes the petals to discolor and wilt. Many types of packages have been tried, with varying success. Where the box or package is satisfactory, the cost of manufacture has been prohibitive. The cost of packaging cannot be disproportionate to'the cost of the floral bouquets retained therein. The instant invention thereby solves the'dual problem of attractive packaging and a low cost of production.

It is an important object of the invention to provide a package that can house delicate objects without their becoming damaged during transportation.

It is another important object to provide a housing for perishable objects having adequate ventilation and protection while said perishable objects are being transported and delivered.

It is yet another object to provide an inexpensive packaging means that serves to both display and protect flowers or'similar perishable objects without their being damaged while being handled by the customer or while in transit. 1

It is yet another object to provide a package that is obtained from a single blank, a portion of the blank; being removed to serve as a retaining pocket, and the window obtained thereby being utilized for display or carrying purposes.

These and many other important advantages of this invention will become readily apparent as the description thereof proceeds and as is defined in the appended claims when read in conjunction'with the accompanying drawmgs.

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of one embodiment of a floral package adapted to retain a potted plant or bouquet of flowers in accordance with the teaching of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of the package of the invention similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating a plant retained therein;

Fig. 3 is a perspective illustration of the type of plant, or short-stemmed flowers, adapted to bepackaged;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1 illustrating the marginal walls and carryingmeans of the blank utilized in packaging flowers;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 6 and illustrates another form of the invention designed to package and protect long-stemmed flowers, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the modified package whereby the buds of enclosed flowers are free while the flowers themselves are protected against injury.

Referring to the drawings wherein like parts are mired} St tS Patent 0 the tapered sides of the base member.

the peripheral length thereof to provide the side tabs 16.

The score lines 18, 20, 22 and 24 are provided adjacent the upper, wide portionof the base member 12 and are designed to form the edges of a window 26 after the score lines have been broken and the strip member 28 has been removed, as is shown'inFig'. l. The strip member 28 is also provided with the creases or fold lines 30 along its peripheral length to provide the tabs 32 and is secured to the base member 12 at the narrow portion thereof by means of the staples or similar securing means 34, fastening the tabs 16 and 32 together.

The particular method of fastening the strip member 28 to the base member 12 is designed to form a pocket 36 adapted to retain a potted plant or holder for flowers, shown for illustrative purposes only, in Fig. 3. The holder 38 is made of papier mache or similar material and retains therein seasonal flowers 40. The holder and flowers are placed within the pocket 36, as is shown in Fig. 2.

While the strip member 28 may assume any desired shape, it is of particular advantage to be in the trapezoidal configuration illustrated. Examination of Fig. 1 discloses that the opposed sides 18 and 22 of the cut-out portion of the base member 12 are parallel, while the sides 20 and 24 diverge at an obtuse angle with respect to However, when the strip member 28 is fastened to the base member 12, thte tabs 32 are parallel with the tabs 16 of the base member, thereby causing the pocket 36 to be bowed out at a greater angle normal to the plane of the base member at the upper free edge 42, than at the lower free edge 44. It thus becomes apparent that a wedging effect is obtained along both the longitudinal axis of the strip member 28 and the transverse axis thereto. When a potted plant similar to that illustrated in Fig. 3 is inserted into the pocket 36, as is shown in Fig. 2, the wedging eifect is obtained along all four sides and there is. virtually no possibility for theplant to become dislodged while in transit. .j:

A further means against accidental removal of the plant from the pocket or holder 36 is provided by the opening or window 46. Adjacent the vertical sides of the opening 46 are slits 4-8. These slits permit the flanges or strips 50 to be folded back on the score lines 52. When the plant holder 38 is inserted into the pocket 36, it will bulge slightly through opening 46 causing the strips 50 to press into the slightly protruding portion of the potted holder to thereby aid in retaining the flowers in the display package.

When the display package of the invention is to be used as a container utilized in the sale of potted plants, a cellophane cover or other transparent or translucent means 54 (see Fig. 2) is placed across the tab members 16and is fastened thereto at 56. The tabs are thus raised to a position almost normal to the base 12. The height or the tab members 16 is suflicient to prevent a pressing or crushing contact between the flowers and the cello- 12 by the window portion 26. The hand of the customer or employee extends into the opening in the top of cover 54 and through the window 26 to be curled around the handle 57, so that the package is carried with the flowers 40 extending vertically in the conventional manner.

The embodiment described above is capable of carrying cut flowers as well, if desired. In this instance, the flowers are tied together as a bunch or bundle so that they will not slide through the pocket 36. It will also be recognized by those skilled in the art that the cover 54 may be of tubular form also to he slid over the upright side tabs 16 and secured thereto in the manner previously descnbed.

When it is desired to provide a floral display of cut flowers without danger of injury to the flowers and their buds, the form of the invention shown in Figs. and 6 is utilized. The base member 58 is similar in construction to the base member 12, except that the tapered sides do not include the score lines and the flaps 16. Further, the window 60 in this form of the invention isparallel to the sides of the base and the strip member 62 conforms to the tapered construction of the base member. The base member 58 contains the crease lines 64 which merge With the score lines for the window 60 and define an elongated rear panel 66.

The strip member 62 is placed across the base member 58, a short distance away from the narrow edge of the tapered base member and is secured thereto by the fasteners 68. Because the sides of the strip member are in complementary alignment with the base member, the strip member lies flat against the base member to provide the very narrow pocket 70. An elongated front panel 72 is bent upwardly on the crease lines 74 in spaced parallel relation to the panel 66. A cellophane, or other clear transparent or translucent paper 76 is stretched across the edges of the panels 66 and 72. It is fastened to the package panel 72 at 78 and stretched over the rear of panel 66 at 81 and fastened thereto at 80. If desired, an opening or window 82, is also'provided to view the flower stems.

The covering 76 continues and extends forward beyond the front panel 72 to cover or overlay the strip 62 and its window 82 at 84. The overlay portion 84 is then secured at its ends to the strip 62 and base 58 by suitable means, as the fasteners 68. This overlay portion 84 thus serves as a tie to retain the two panels 72 and 66 in their upright positions at an angle substantially perpendicular to the base 58. I g

The long stemmed flowers 86 are inserted beneath the base member 58 and through the window 60 along the base member, with the stems of the flowers extending through the slotted opening 70. In this manner, the deli-. cate flowers cannot be bruised in handling while'the buds remain exposed to the atmosphere to assist them to mature. Ventilation through the open sides maintains the flowers fresh. The slight pressure of the sides of the window 60 against the flowers and the pressure of the strip member 62 against the stems holds the flowers in the merchandise. It is also manifest that other forms of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is: V

1. In a flower holder formed from a single blank of sheet material, said sheetmaterial having tapered edges along its length, a Window defined in said sheet material at the wider portion thereof to form a handle means thereon, fold lines along said tapered edges of said sheet defining upstanding tab means thereon, a strip member, means to secure together said strip member and sheet at their respectivetab means in the area of the narrow portion of said tapered sheet, flowers retained in place between said sheet and strip member and said strip member being bowed upwardly from said sheet when secured thereto to form a flower receiving pocket open at its lower end, and a transparent cover secured to said tab means and spaced from said sheet to define a pocket therebetween and being open at its upper end to provide ventilation for the flowers in said pocket.

2. A flower holder comprising a tapered base member, an opening defined in said base member at the wider portion thereof having a wall thereof forming a handle means thereon, tab means extending along the edges of said base member, a strip member having tab means extending along the edges thereof, and means securing said strip member to said base member at the tab means thereof with said strip member being-bowed outwardly from said base member to form a flower receiving pocket therebetween, and a cover secured to said tab means of said base to define a pocket therewith in extension of said first named pocket and spaced therefrom to provide a flower ventilating opening therebetween and flowers retained in each of said pockets.

3. A flower holder as in claim 2, said strip member having a window, flange means extending from opposite sides of said window to grip the flowers retained in said pocket of said strip member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS France Apr. 26, 

